Hampshire police have confirmed three arrests following far-right demonstrations in Portsmouth, where hundreds of activists gathered for a second consecutive weekend to oppose small boat crossings. A 76-year-old man from Southampton, a 33-year-old man from Portsmouth, and a 16-year-old boy were all detained during or in connection with the protests, which drew both support and fierce opposition from counter-demonstrators.
The gatherings unfolded against the backdrop of a small boat carrying 140 people seeking asylum that was intercepted near Portsmouth last Sunday — an event believed to be the first time a vessel of that scale carrying migrants had reached the city.
A Weekend of Tension on the Streets
On Saturday, far-right marchers assembled outside All Saints Church on Commercial Road, draped in union flags and branded clothing. Through a megaphone, a protest leader urged the crowd to chant “stop the boats,” framing the demonstration as a stand against what he called “illegal men invading the shores.”
Nearby, a separate group of counter-protesters carrying Stand Up to Racism and Refugees Welcome banners staged their own demonstration. Their placards included messages such as “RNLI are heroes, no one is illegal” and “stop pretending your racism is patriotism.”
Police maintained a significant presence across the city centre, and both groups were assigned designated areas under protest conditions. The anti-immigration march proceeded to Guildhall Square, with the counter-demonstration following the same route at a later time. Officers warned that failure to comply with the conditions could result in arrest.
Three Detained Under New Powers
The 76-year-old man from Southampton was held on suspicion of concealing his identity, following warnings from Hampshire and Isle of Wight constabulary that face coverings would not be permitted under provisions in the Crime and Policing Act. A 33-year-old man from Portsmouth was arrested on suspicion of obstructing a highway, while the 16-year-old boy was detained on suspicion of violent disorder linked to disturbances the previous evening.
Donna Jones, the police and crime commissioner for Hampshire and Isle of Wight, said the force had hoped to avoid a repeat of Sunday night’s disorder. “Thankfully we didn’t see repeated scenes of Sunday night with assaults on police officers and criminal damage to police vehicles and people’s property,” she said. “With the exception of a few people, it was peaceful and conducted in accordance with the new law calling for their faces to be uncovered.”
Jones defended the use of the face-covering powers, saying they had been applied “equally and impartially.” She added: “The people of Portsmouth deserve to go about their business without fear and disruption. I will ensure this power is used proportionately in the future for both sides of the spectrum of protesters.”
Glasgow Sees Parallel Protests
Hundreds of people also gathered in Glasgow for an anti-immigration rally and associated counter-demonstration. The Pink Ladies movement organised their event at Glasgow Green, which prompted opposing groups, including Stand Up to Scotland, to arrange a counter-protest. The two factions were kept apart on the eastern side of the park, with the People’s Palace and a heavy police presence serving as a buffer between them.
Chief Superintendent Stevie Dolan had warned of a “strong response” if violence broke out, citing flashpoints at a previous protest in the same park in July. The event ultimately passed off peacefully.
Among those attending the counter-protest were MSP Alison Thewliss, a Scottish government minister, and MSP Iris Duane, alongside Roz Foyer, general secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress. On the other side, prominent figures on the Scottish right, including Reform UK’s deputy leader in Scotland, Thomas Kerr, and Reform councillor Audrey Dempsey, were present at the Pink Ladies gathering.
Context: Small Boat Crossings and a Rising Tide of Vigilantism
Last Sunday’s small boat arrival appeared to be the first time a vessel carrying such a large number of asylum seekers had been brought to Portsmouth, and it marked the first occasion that a significant group of anti-migrant protesters attempted to block newly arrived asylum seekers from being processed.
Official figures show that small boat crossings have fallen by more than 40% compared with the same period last year. While the Home Office has disrupted the smugglers’ business model, their tactics appear to have shifted, with boats now being launched from different parts of the French coast much farther from the UK shore — making the journeys considerably more hazardous.
The government condemned what it described as the “thuggish behaviour” of protesters last weekend. “We condemn the intimidating and thuggish behaviour we are seeing tonight,” a government spokesperson said. “The right to peaceful protest is fundamental to our democracy, but it must never cross a line into disorder.”
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood met senior police officers on Thursday to receive reassurance that forces are prepared to act swiftly against far-right groups seeking to intimidate communities. Her comments came after official vehicles were damaged in Portsmouth and a small number of officers were injured. In Dover, crowds of masked men blocked road access to the port in scenes that were condemned by politicians across the political spectrum.
The first man charged over last weekend’s demonstrations in Portsmouth, Del Leon Somerville, 42, of Paulsgrove, appeared before the city’s magistrates court on Saturday, facing charges of violent disorder and assaulting a police constable in the execution of their duty. Assistant Chief Constable Tony Rowlinson said the arrest was the “first of what we fully anticipate to be a number of arrests” and expressed hope it would send a “clear warning” to those planning future disruption.
RNLI volunteers and staff have also faced abuse from protesters over their role in rescuing migrants at sea, despite being widely regarded as heroes for their life-saving work.
Why it Matters
The events of this weekend expose deep fractures in the national conversation around immigration and reveal a troubling surge in far-right vigilante activity that has grown rapidly over the past 18 months. As communities in Portsmouth, Glasgow, and Dover grapple with the fallout from these confrontations, the question is whether existing legislation and policing resources are sufficient to maintain public safety while protecting the democratic right to peaceful protest. With the Home Office acknowledging that smuggling tactics are evolving and crossings becoming more dangerous, the risk is that opportunistic agitators will continue to exploit these crises — unless authorities and communities find a way to draw a clear line between lawful dissent and intimidation.
